Brain Waves

Philadelphia Weekly is the largest audited-circulation weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania, distributed at nearly 2,000 locations reaching a readership close to 400,000. In 2007, PW was named the Best Weekly Newspaper in the State by both the Society of Professional Journalists...

While almost everyone in Philadelphia knows musician Steph Hayes, it’s just now becoming common knowledge that for years, Hayes struggled with a secret burden. The drum rolls theatrically and the host announces, for one of the first times ever in public, the artist formerly known as Steph Hayes. “Introducing Mr. Stephan Hayes!” the host trills. As Hayes starts to play, the physical changes from seven months of hormone replacement therapy are noticeable. In more ways than one, Stephan Hayes is a new man.

Like its restaurant scene, Philadelphia’s music community is in the midst of a renaissance. The regeneration was on abundant display during SXSW, where, no matter where you went, a band from Philly was on the tip of someone’s tongue, in front of their eyes or ringing in their ears.